Cameron Students posing for a picture on Campus

Understanding your Financial Aid

Types of Financial Aid

Cameron University is one of the most affordable among Oklahoma colleges and universities. Even with our affordable tuition and fees and on-campus residential living, many of our students receive financial aid to help fund part or all of their education. Cameron offers many federal, state and institutional aid programs to assist students in their educational endeavors. The types and amounts of aid awarded are determined by financial need, student classification, academic merit, talent, and availability of funds. Financial aid is classified as:

  • Federal Grants
  • Direct Student Loans
  • Scholarships
  • Tuition Waivers
  • Work Study

Federal Grants

Grants are free money that typically does not have to be repaid. Grants are usually awarded to students who are determined to have a high financial need based on completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

  • PELL: A federally sponsored program that only awards to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's or professional degree.
  • SEOG: Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant. A federally sponsored program for undergraduate students with exceptional financial need. At Cameron University, students must have a "0" or lower SAI and be Pell Grant eligible to be considered. Funds are limited; students should submit their FAFSA early to receive SEOG funding.
  • OTAG: Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant. A state-sponsored program designed to help pay tuition costs for residents of Oklahoma in high-need majors who are enrolled at least half-time (6 hours). Funds are limited, so students should submit their FAFSA early to receive OTAG funding.
  • TEACH: Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant. A federally sponsored non-need-based program that provides funds to students who are enrolled in an eligible program, meet certain academic achievement requirements, and agree to the service obligations within the terms outlined in the TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve. You must also submit a TEACH Grant Application to the Office of Financial Aid.

Direct Student Loans

The Federal Direct Student Loan Program allows students enrolled at least half-time to borrow funds to help pay for and defer the cost of their college education. These programs require that all funds be repaid. Origination fees and interest rates apply.

First-time borrowers must complete Entrance Counseling and a Master Promissory Note (MPN) before their loans can be disbursed. Exit counseling is also required when a student drops below half-time enrollment or graduates. You may complete Entrance Counseling, MPN, or Exit Counseling electronically via the Student Loans website at https://studentaid.gov/h/complete-aid-process.

  • Direct Subsidized Loans are available only to undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need, as determined by the FAFSA. The federal government subsidizes the loan interest as long as the student is enrolled at least half-time and making satisfactory academic progress.
  • Direct Unsubsidized Loans are available and do not require the student to demonstrate financial need. The student must still complete the FAFSA to be eligible. The borrower is responsible for the principal and interest from the time the loan is disbursed.
  • Direct PLUS Loans are available as a financial resource to parents of dependent students. The student must meet the general eligibility requirements for federal student aid, but the parent does not have to demonstrate financial need to be eligible for a PLUS Loan. The parents' credit history will be reviewed. Parents are responsible for repaying the loan.

Per federal regulations, CU will apply a 30-day delay to loan disbursements for first-time freshman-level students. CU is also required to disburse all single-term loans in two equal disbursements—one at the beginning of the term and one mid-term.

Tuition Waivers & Scholarships

Students can apply for all institutional tuition waivers and scholarships through the CU Scholarship Application Portal. The priority application deadline is February 1st each year. To view a complete listing of institutional tuition waivers and scholarships, click HERE.

Tuition Waivers

Tuition waivers are institutional awards that are used to "offset" the cost of your tuition. These waivers can be applied against in-state and out-of-state tuition. Most tuition waivers are awarded based on high school grade point average, ACT/SAT scores, high school class rank, and transfer retention grade point averages.

A tuition waiver for Oklahoma residents waives the designated amount of tuition and is credited against the in-state tuition rate. Students are responsible for all fees. Non-resident and Texas county tuition waivers waive the tuition difference between the in-state and non-resident rates. These students are responsible for the remaining tuition costs and all fees.

Scholarships

A scholarship is a type of financial assistance that does not have to be repaid. Funds are provided through the institution, civic and religious organizations, professional groups, foundations, corporations, and cultural groups. Scholarships are based on academic excellence, personal skills, family affiliations, athletic ability, financial need, or other factors.

  1. Institutional Scholarships - Applications submitted through the Scholarship Application Portal are reviewed by departments and committees, and students are notified if they are selected. Please note that unweighted GPAs are used in determining eligibility for freshman applicants. Deadline for priority consideration is February 1st.
  2. Non-institutional Scholarships - In addition to the institutional application, we encourage you to apply for as many non-institutional scholarships as you can find. It's free money! Consider the following sources as you begin your search:
    • Foundations, religious or community organizations, local businesses, or civic groups
    • Organizations and professional associations related to your field of interest
    • Your/your parents' employers
    • Ethnicity-based organizations
    • A high school or TRIO counselor

Search online, but be careful; make sure scholarship information or offers are legitimate. Remember, you should never have to pay to find scholarships or other financial aid.

Be sure to check out the list of available local scholarships and scholarship search engines.

Work Study

Work study is a student employment program that pays students minimum wage to work in a variety of positions on campus. Students can use their work study earnings to help pay for tuition, fees, housing, and other expenses. There are two types of work study available:

  1. Institutionally funded employment requires enrollment in at least 6 credit hours in fall or spring, or at least 3 credit hours in summer.
  2. Federally funded employment requires that you meet federal eligibility as determined by the outcome of your FAFSA.

Enrolled students can find open workstudy positions on campus on the Quick Links menu in AggieAccess.